Deconstructing McRib -- the story, the photographs...

In late 2005, the global fast food giant McDonald's announced the 'Farewell Tour' of the McRib sandwich. (Frankly, I don't believe McRib will be retired permanently, but more on that later.) The reappearance of the McRib reminded me of my lifelong fascination with the marketing and culinary mind set that creates a boneless rib sandwich with a pressed meat patty made to look like it has bones in it. I mean, that's weird, right?

McRib Trivia (from McDonald's)

Every year McDonald's purchases 250,000,000 pounds of pork.

The McRib sandwich as been mentioned twice on David Letterman's "Top 10 List."

Each McRib sandwich is actually submerged in tangy BBQ sauce.

The McRib sandwich was first introduced to the public in 1982.

The McRib sandwich sports 2 pickles and .25 ounces of onions.

The McRib sandwich was spoofed in The Simpsons episode #303.

So, knowing I'd never understand the thought process that created it, I decided to 'deconstruct' the McRib sandwich itself. Hence the photos below.

But first, a little history: The McRib was introduced in 1981 and was a regular item on the menu for several years. Over time McRib became a 'special' menu item and was only available in select regions at various times. It became part of popular food culture with mentions on Letterman's Top 10 list and The Simpsons.

Today McDonald's has even taken to self-mockery with regards to the McRib. They've created the fictitious "Boneless Pig Farmers of America" web site (www.bonelesspigs.org).

And what about that fancy McRib.com web site that offers logos you can download for t-shirt iron-ons, trivia and games related to McRib and begs the question, "Why spend all the money if the sandwich is going away?" It's not. It's just a revival of that perennial anomaly of the rib-less rib-meat sandwich.

The 'deconstruction':

Whether or not it would continue to be around, I decided one day that I wanted to 'see inside' the McRib. Rest assured, I wasn't expecting to find ribs in there. I knew better. But I wanted to know what that 'meat' patty looked like without the sauce. And I wanted to know what was inside.

The photos below show what I discovered from the moment I came home and opened the McDonald's bag to the moment I laid out the filleted McRib patty on the cutting board. Just click on a photo to enlarge it in a new window. Enjoy! {comments?}

Click photos to enlarge

Right out of the bag, still in the wrapper.

Just unwrapped.

A look under the bun.

With the pickles and onions removed.

With the sauce washed off.

This is the 'bottom,' apparently the 'ribs' are only pressed on the top.